Jerry E. Bergman, 80, of Garner, formerly of Forest City, passed away Thursday, March 21, 2024, at Concord Care Center.
A visitation will be held from 10 to 11 a.m., Thursday, March 28, 2024, at Cataldo Funeral Chapel, 160 E. 4th St. in Garner followed by a graveside service at Madison Township Cemetery south of Forest City.
Cataldo Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
Jerry Eugene Bergman was born August 23, 1943, to Walter Wiliam and Gladys Olene Henrietta Olson (Etzen) Bergman in Forest City. At the age of 11, he went to live at Woodward State Hospital School in Woodward. Jerry lived there from 1954 until March of 1964 when he moved to the Hancock County Care Facility (Duncan Heights) in Duncan. Jerry worked several days a week at Garner Work Center and participated in Bible classes. He acquired some reading and writing skills and had an exceptional memory for specific dates of birthdays and anniversaries. Jerry loved his job at Larson Contract Packaging and Cole Sewell Packaging of parts. He attended the ABE class at the production center once a week through NIACC. He also participated in going to Hardee’s, Church dinners, picnics, Bingo, Clay County Fair, movies, walking, Camp Sunnyside, Special Olympics, softball, track and field, bowling, Hancock County Fair, and parties. He did the weather chart for Duncan every day for years. Jerry loved to do puzzles, play cards, and listen to the radio. He had a collection of pictures and kept up on the ball games on the radio. At Duncan Heights, he helped in the kitchen and dining room. Jerry won a first-place medal in the 1998 Special Olympics. He was honored to carry the torch at the Iowa State Special Olympics at Ames in 1997.
Jerry is survived by two stepbrothers, Harold and Vance Hakes; four stepsisters, Juanita Hakes, Gayle Snow, Virginia Weiland and Catherine Hakes; and many extended family members.
He was preceded in death by his mother in 1966; his father in 1984; his half-sister, Beverly Carlson in 2010; half-brother, Robert Etzen in 2007; stepsister, Ramona Gustin and stepbrother, Bruce Hakes.
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